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He said when he first arrived at the house where he thought Kean was doing gardening work he saw him in his rear view mirror and he was uninjured.

Kean then appeared about 10 minutes later covered in blood and got into Mr Gregory's car and was driven to Perth Royal Hospital. After spotting the marks on his neck, Mr Gregory told the court: "I thought he had tried to take his own life."

He said he telephoned Kean the following day, whereupon he said Kean admitted the suicide attempt and blamed his struggling internet business.

Earlier, the jury heard that Mrs Methven may have fought for her life with her attacker. Dr Helen Brownlow, a pathologist, said that she died for brain injuries and blunt force trauma to her head.

Mrs Methven's two forearms were also broken with the bone piercing the skin.

The court heard it was possible these could have been defensive injuries caused by her putting her arms up to her head as she was struck.

Dr Brownlow said that at least 11 blows landed on Mrs Methven's skull which was fractured from the left ear to the right ear.

Jagged pieces of bone had gone into her brain and Dr Brownlow said she would have been unconscious after a couple of blows. The jury of nine women and six men was shown two pictures of the horrific injuries suffered by Mrs Methven.

The pathologist said that she had examined four potential weapons – a hammer, a baseball bat and two wooden handles – but none had caused the crescent-shaped marks found on Mrs Methven.

As well as being accused of murder, Kean is alleged to have repeatedly cut his own fingertips and palms in order to prevent the police getting usable print samples.

He is also charged with stealing £15,000 from Mrs Methven's cottage on 14 September last year. Kean denies all charges and has lodged a special defence blaming David Methven, the victim’s son.